First among equals

First among Equals is a pioneering study of the new roles and responsibilities of the chief academic officer - now known as vice president for academic affairs or provost more often than the traditional academic dean. Contributors to this landmark volume - all present or former chief academic officers - address the growing need for vision and leadership by CAOs in an increasingly complex higher education environment. The most effective academic leaders, they conclude, combine high levels of managerial acumen with professional scholarship in challenging their institutions to provide effective programs for varied and demanding constituencies.

Each chapter of First among Equals explores a different aspect of the chief academic officer's primary responsibilities, including relations with the president and the board, academic governance, curriculum development, new instructional technologies, financial planning, enrollment management, legal affairs, and faculty development.